Where to Find and Set Up Find My iPhone on Your Apple Devices

Find My iPhone lives in Settings, not in a separate app

Find My iPhone is built into the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — you do not read it separately. You turn it on in Settings under your Apple ID, and once it is active, you can locate your device from any other Apple device or from iCloud.com using the same Apple ID.

The feature works because your device constantly reports its location to Apple's servers when Find My is on. If your phone goes missing, you can sign into iCloud.com from any computer or borrow someone else's iPhone and use the Find My app to see where it is on a map, play a sound, lock it remotely, or erase it.

Key Takeaways

Find My iPhone is turned on in Settings under your Apple ID, not in a separate app or control center.
You need to be signed into your Apple ID on the device before you can turn Find My on.
Once Find My is on, you can locate your device from iCloud.com or from the Find My app on another Apple device.
Find My requires location services to be on for your device, so check Settings > Privacy > Location Services if it will not set up.

How to turn on Find My iPhone on your device

Open Settings and tap your name at the top. Tap iCloud. Scroll down until you see Find My and tap it. You will see two toggles: Find My iPhone and Find My Network. Turn on Find My iPhone by tapping the toggle so it turns green.

If you do not see Find My in iCloud settings, make sure you are signed into your Apple ID. Go back to the top of Settings, tap your name, and check that you see your email address and name. If you see "Sign in to your iPhone" instead, you need to sign in first before Find My will appear as an option.

Find My Network is optional. It lets other Apple devices help locate yours even if it is offline or the battery is dead, by using their Bluetooth connection to report your device's location. Most people turn this on as well, since it costs nothing and increases the chance of finding a lost device.

How to locate your iPhone from another device

If your iPhone is lost, open the Find My app on another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Sign in with the same Apple ID you use on the missing device. Tap Devices at the bottom and select your iPhone from the list. You will see it on a map with its current location.

From the Find My app, you can tap Play Sound to make your phone ring at full volume even if it is on silent, Mark as Lost to lock it and display a message on the screen, or Erase iPhone to wipe it remotely if you believe it has been stolen. You can also use iCloud.com from any web browser: go to iCloud.com, sign in, click Find My iPhone, and select your device.

What to do if Find My iPhone will not turn on

The most common reason Find My will not set up is that location services is turned off on your device. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure the toggle at the top is green. If it is off, turn it on, then go back to Settings > your name > iCloud > Find My and try turning on Find My iPhone again.

If location services is already on but Find My still will not set up, check that you have a strong internet connection — Find My needs either Wi-Fi or cellular data to work. Restart your device by powering it off and back on, then try again. If it still does not work, sign out of your Apple ID in Settings > your name > Sign Out, then sign back in and attempt to turn on Find My.

On a Mac, the process is similar: go to System Settings > your name > iCloud, find Find My Mac, and turn it on. If it is grayed out, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and make sure it is on.

Why Find My iPhone needs location services to work

Find My iPhone relies on your device's GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and Bluetooth to pinpoint where it is. Location services is the system that gathers this information and sends it to Apple's servers. Without location services on, your device cannot report its position, so Find My has nothing to show you.

Turning on location services does use more battery power than leaving it off, but the difference is usually small — most people do not notice a significant drain. If battery life is a concern, you can turn location services on only when you need it, or turn on Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery to reduce power use across the board.

The difference between Find My iPhone and Find My Network

Find My iPhone locates your device using its own GPS and internet connection. If your phone is turned off, out of battery, or not connected to the internet, Find My iPhone cannot find it.

Find My Network works differently. It uses other nearby Apple devices — iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches — to relay your device's location back to you, even if your phone is offline or dead. When you turn on Find My Network, your device becomes part of a network that helps locate other lost Apple devices too. Apple encrypts this data so that other devices cannot see whose phone they are helping to locate.

For the best chance of finding a lost device, turn on both. Find My iPhone will locate it if it has power and internet, and Find My Network will help if it does not.

What happens if you turn off Find My before selling or giving away your device

Before you sell, trade in, or give your iPhone to someone else, turn off Find My iPhone in Settings > your name > iCloud > Find My. If you do not, the new owner will not be able to use the device because it will be locked to your Apple ID. Apple calls this set up Lock, and it is a security feature that prevents someone else from using a stolen phone.

To fully remove your device from your Apple ID, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Find My and turn off Find My iPhone. Then go back and tap Sign Out at the bottom of the iCloud settings page. The new owner can then sign in with their own Apple ID and set up the device as new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Find My iPhone if my phone is turned off?

Not with Find My iPhone alone. If your phone is powered off, it cannot report its location. However, if you have Find My Network turned on, other Apple devices nearby can help locate it. Some newer iPhones also support a feature called Power Reserve that keeps Find My working for a short time after the battery dies.

Does Find My iPhone work internationally?

Yes, as long as your device has an internet connection. If your phone is in another country and connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, Find My will show its location on the map. If it is offline, Find My Network can still help if other Apple devices are nearby.

Can someone else see my location through Find My iPhone?

No. Find My iPhone only shows your device's location to you when you sign in with your Apple ID. Other people cannot see where your phone is unless you share your location with them through a different feature called Share My Location, which you control separately in Settings.

What if I forgot my Apple ID password and cannot turn on Find My?

You will need to reset your Apple ID password before you can access iCloud settings. Go to Settings > your name > Password & Security > Change Password, or visit iforgot.apple.com from another device to reset it. Once you have reset your password, you can sign back in and turn on Find My.

Does Find My iPhone work on iPad and Mac?

Yes. The feature is called Find My iPhone on iPhone, but it is the same system for iPad and Mac. On iPad, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Find My. On Mac, go to System Settings > your name > iCloud > Find My Mac. All your devices appear in the same Find My app once they are set up.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.